A lifeline of hope for parents of teens who feel adrift on the real and raw parenting journey, presented with wisdom and faith—and a touch of candid humor—from seasoned educator, mother, and Today Parenting contributor Amy Betters-Midtvedt.
“Parenting teens doesn’t come with a manual, but this book comes as close to one as I’ve ever read.”—New York Times bestselling author Rachel Macy Stafford
As a mom with five kids ages twelve to twenty-two living at home, Amy Betters-Midtvedt found that parenting teens challenged everything she thought it meant to be a “good” mom. But in the unraveling came the building of something new and more beautiful than she could have imagined: an incredible sense of love, hope, joy, and relationship—even in the mess.
You'll Make It (and They Will Too) is as much about navigating the minefields of anxiety and mental health as it is setting curfews, convincing kids to bring their dishes back to the kitchen, and deciding whose turn it is to have the car keys. It’s about dancing in the kitchen with soon-to-be adult kids who are taller than you. It’s making appointments with a therapist and a college admissions counselor in the same week. It’s helping your kids cling to faith even as they reject the pew on Sunday mornings.
Through stories steeped in hope and prayer of both her professional and personal parenting journey, Amy shares:
• words of comfort for when you feel alone, together with wisdom and strategies that will help you to not just survive the sleepless nights, but also to thrive as a stronger family unit
• prayers to draw on God’s strength when everything feels overwhelming
• a path forward with your teenagers that brings you into a lifelong loving relationship
• ways to celebrate the beauty in your teens in all that they are, just as God made them
Each chapter will leave you equipped, encouraged, and less alone by guiding you through how to listen to your own heart when parenting your precious teen.
* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains the discussion questions from the book.
Download and start listening now!
"If you feel like you’re stumbling along the path of raising teenagers, Amy Betters-Midtvedt offers a steady hand to hold. She reaches into the dark and deep to shed light, and even humor, where we need it most. This heart-healing, soul-filling, truth-telling book will quickly become a coveted companion that not only helps you survive the teenage years butalso invites you to embrace them with confidence and hope."
— Mehr Lee, writer of Raise Her Wild blog
This is the book every parent raising a teenager needs. Amy reminds us—as only she can with her genuine wit, wisdom, and love—that we’re not alone in our struggles and that our teens will come back to us. As a longtime fan of Amy’s, I turn to her advice time and time again while raising my own teens. I know you will too.
— Leslie Means, founder and owner of Her View From Home LLCParenting teens doesn’t come with a manual, but this book comes as close to one as I’ve ever read. With refreshing honesty, compassion, and humor, Amy reveals the hard-to-decode core needs of teenagers. Parents experiencing frustration, shame, or hopelessness will find real relief and tangible hope in these pages.
— Rachel Macy Stafford, New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and special-education teacherThis is the book we parents of teenagers will carry around in purses or stash in the center console of our cars so we can return to it every time we wonder, Am I going to get through this? Is my kid going to be okay? With compassion enough to make us feel safe and wisdom enough to help us hold on to hope, Amy Betters-Midtvedt is the mentor and friend we can count on no matter what.
— Mikala Albertson, MD, family practice doctor and author of Everything I Wish I Could Tell You About MidlifeAmy shines a spotlight on the importance of putting the relationships we have with our kids ahead of everything else—and that leading with love, acceptance, and grace can help us weather any storm. I found myself nodding as she detailed the complexities of raising kids today, belly laughing at her relatable stories, and choking back tears at the love she pours into her family.
— Whitney Fleming, author of You’re Not a Failure: My Teen Doesn’t Like Me EitherAmy helps normalize the experience of parenting teens as she talks about the things we desperately need to hear: mental health, faith, social media, friendship, letting go, and more. Her words bring comfort and provide companionship as we come to see that we really aren’t the only ones who are trying to make it.
— Jen Thompson, creator of Truly YoursAmy Betters-Midtvedt has a profound ability to articulate the things we wrestle with as mothers. She makes us feel seen while also offering an extended hand and the hope that we can get through this. This is the perfect tool kit for the harrowing journey that is raising teens.
— Jess Johnston, national bestselling co-author of I’ll Be There (But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants)Be the first to write a review about this audiobook!